Roadrunners gain recognition as potential ‘force’ in WAC race

Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Dykes on Monday said he thinks the UTSA Roadrunners could be a “force to be reckoned with” in the Western Athletic Conference as the race unfolds in October and November.

Asked during the WAC teleconference to talk about the surprises he’s seen in the WAC thus far, Dykes mentioned UTSA first.

“You look at the records, and there’s a lot of good football teams in the conference,” Dykes said. “I think Texas-San Antonio obviously has played extremely well. I think they’re surprising some people.”

Coaches and media picked UTSA in preseason polls to finish last. But the Roadrunners, in only their second season of existence in college football, have started 5-0, including 1-0 in the WAC.

Playing their first WAC game last weekend, the Roadrunners went on the road and beat the New Mexico State Aggies, 35-14.

“I just don’t think any of us knew what we were getting with them, just because we hadn’t seen ’em,” Dykes said. “We just hadn’t seen ’em on film. Usually you run across somebody on tape and we just hadn’t seen those guys. So, it’s been impressive to see what they did, and how they’ve been doing.”

WAC members Lousiana Tech (4-0), Utah State (4-1) and San Jose State (4-1) also have surprised some people nationally with their play. Tech, in particular, has registered road victories at Houston, Illinois and Virginia.

But within the WAC, those three were regarded all along as the top teams in the conference. Previously an unknown commodity, UTSA has started to attract some attention.

“I mean, they’ve been handling teams, and getting after them pretty good,” Dykes said. “So, obviously, they’ve got a good thing going, right there, playing with a lot of confidence. They’re a team that looks like they’re going to be difficult to beat and a force to be reckoned with in the conference.”